Design Your Family Crest

Looking to design a family crest? With Kittl, you can easily create a meaningful and unique emblem that reflects family heritage. Designing a custom coat of arms is a fantastic way to celebrate your heritage, showcase your creativity, and create something truly unique. And with Kittl, the process is easier than ever, thanks to customizable family crest templates.

In this blog post, we'll walk you through the steps to create your very own coat of arms using Kittl's versatile family crest templates. Whether you're looking to design a family crest that honors your lineage or craft a modern interpretation of your family symbol, we've got you covered.

What Is a Family Crest or Coat of Arms?

Before we get started with designing your family crest, let’s take a moment to understand what a family crest and coat of arms actually are. Historically, a coat of arms was a unique heraldic design displayed on a shield or escutcheon, used to identify individuals or families. These symbols were often passed down through generations and were used by knights and noble families in Europe. Over time, the designs became more complex, incorporating elements like mottos, supporters (figures or animals on either side of the shield), and other decorative flourishes. Historic UK shares:

Today, while the original use of coats of arms has faded, the idea of creating a personal coat of arms or family crest has remained popular as a way to celebrate one’s heritage or values. 

The terms coat of arms and family crest are often used interchangeably, but they’re not historically the same thing. The family crest or just “crest” is a smaller element of a coat of arms. It’s an object that sits at the top of the family crest, above the coronet or crown. 

The coat of arms is the entire design, including the shield, supporters, and crest. But as we say, the terms are frequently used interchangeably these days.

What Should Be in a Family Crest?

A family crest is made up of several individual key components. These include the shield, supporters, mantling, crest, coronet or crown (used in place of a helmet, at the base of a helmet, or sitting atop a helmet), shield elements, and a motto. 

With Kittl's family crest templates, anyone can design their own coat of arms or family crest in just a few simple steps. With hundreds of design elements, you can easily replace elements in the template to align with your heritage and style.

You can see these coat of arms elements labelled below:

Why Use a Family Crest Template?

So, why should you use a family crest template to design your coat of arms? There are plenty of reasons! Perhaps you want to honor your family history or create a unique symbol that represents your values and personality. Or maybe you’re looking for a fun project that combines creativity with a bit of history. Whatever your motivation, designing a family crest is a rewarding and enjoyable experience that results in something you can treasure for years to come.

Using a family crest template streamlines the design process, making it accessible even if you’re not a professional designer. Kittl's templates provide a starting point that you can customize to fit your vision, ensuring your coat of arms is both meaningful and aesthetically pleasing.

Step 1: Gather Your Ideas

Before jumping into the family crest design process, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want your coat of arms to represent. Think about the elements that are important to you - values, symbols, animals, colors, and even mottos. Here are a few questions to get you started:

• What values are important to you or your family?
• Are there any symbols or animals that hold special meaning for you?
• Do you have a family motto, or is there a phrase that you find particularly inspiring?
• What colors do you associate with strength, wisdom, or other qualities you admire?

Take some time to brainstorm and maybe even sketch out a few ideas on paper. This will make the design process much smoother once you start using Kittl’s family crest templates.

Step 2: Start with the Shield Using a Family Crest Template

The shield is the centerpiece of your family crest and the element that will hold most of the symbolic weight. In Kittl, you’ll find a variety of shield shapes within the family crest templates, ranging from traditional to more modern designs. Pick one that resonates with you.

Once you’ve selected your shield shape, it’s time to start customizing. Kittl makes it easy to adjust the colors, gradients, and textures of your shield. Think about the colors you brainstormed earlier - different colors have different meanings in heraldry. For example, red often symbolizes courage, while blue represents loyalty and truth. Play around with different combinations until you find one that feels just right for your family crest.

Family crest template in Kittl

Step 3: Add Your Symbols to the Family Crest Design

Now that you’ve got your shield, it’s time to start adding symbols. In traditional heraldry, these symbols are known as charges, and they can be anything from animals to objects to geometric shapes. Kittl offers a huge selection of vintage-style illustrations and elements, so you’re sure to find something that fits your vision.

When choosing symbols for your family crest design, think about what each one represents. For example:

• Lions: Symbolize courage, strength, and royalty.
• Eagles: Represent freedom, power, and vision.
• Crosses: Often associated with faith and protection.
• Stars: Can symbolize guidance, ambition, or divine favor.

Don’t feel limited to traditional symbols, though! This is your family crest, and you can include anything that’s meaningful to you. Maybe you want to include a guitar to represent your love of music or a book to symbolize your passion for knowledge. The possibilities are endless with Kittl’s family crest templates.

Step 4: Choose Your Crest Using a Family Crest Shield Template

The crest is the element that sits atop your shield, and it’s another opportunity to add a personal touch to your family crest. In traditional heraldry, the crest might be a helmet, a crown, or an animal. In Kittl’s family crest shield templates, you’ll find plenty of options to choose from, including modern and vintage designs.

Your crest can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Consider what will complement the symbols on your shield and help tell the story of your coat of arms. For example, if you’ve included a lion on your shield, you might want to choose a lion’s head for your crest. Or, if you’ve gone with a more abstract design, you could choose a geometric shape or a stylized emblem.

Step 5: Add Supporters to Your Family Crest Template

Supporters are the figures or animals that stand on either side of the shield, often holding it up. These elements add balance to your design and can also carry symbolic meaning. In traditional coats of arms, supporters might be lions, unicorns, or other mythical creatures.

In Kittl, you can choose from a variety of supporter designs or even create your own by combining different elements. Think about what you want your supporters to represent. Are they protectors, like a pair of fierce dragons? Or are they symbols of wisdom, like a pair of owls? Whatever you choose, make sure it complements the rest of your design.

Step 6: Incorporate a Motto into Your Family Crest Template

No coat of arms or family crest is complete without a motto - a short phrase that encapsulates your values or beliefs. This is often placed on a banner or ribbon beneath the shield, but you can get creative with the placement.

Your motto can be anything that inspires you or reflects your personal philosophy. You can keep it traditional and add it in Latin. Or write it in your native language for a more personal touch. 

Get creative with your font selection! If you're going for a traditional look, explore the various script-style fonts available. For a more unique family crest, choose a font that complements your distinct style. Kittl offers a diverse range of unique fonts styles, along with pre-set font combinations to help you achieve the perfect pairing for your design.

20 Family Crest Motto Ideas

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. "Carpe Diem": Seize the day.
2. "Fortis et Liber": Strong and free.
3. "Per Aspera ad Astra": Through hardships to the stars.
4. "Familia Supra Omnia": Family above all.
5. "Virtus Vincit": Virtue conquers.
6. "Semper Fidelis": Always faithful.
7. "Ad Meliora": Towards better things.
8. "Unitate Fortior": Stronger through unity.
9. "Aeternum Fortis": Forever strong.
10. "Labor Omnia Vincit": Work conquers all.
11. "Pax et Prosperitas": Peace and prosperity.
12. "Amor et Honor": Love and honor.
13. "Crescit Sub Pondere Virtus": Virtue grows under pressure.
14. "Fide et Fortitudine": By faith and courage.
15. "Veritas Vincit": Truth conquers.
16. "Spes Mea in Deo": My hope is in God.
17. "Audentes Fortuna Iuvat": Fortune favors the bold.
18. "In Hoc Signo Vinces": In this sign, you will conquer.
19. "Non Sibi Sed Patriae": Not for self, but for country.
20. "Lux et Veritas": Light and truth.

Once you’ve chosen your motto, you can use Kittl’s extensive selection of vintage fonts to find the perfect typography for it. Experiment with different styles until you find one that fits the overall look of your family crest template.

Step 7: Final Touches to Your Blank Family Crest Template

You’re almost done! The final step is to add any decorative elements or flourishes that will complete your design. This could include:

• Mantling: The drapery that surrounds the shield and crest, often in a pattern or color that complements the rest of the design.
• Ornamental Borders: Adding a border around your shield can give your family crest template a finished, polished look.
• Additional Elements: If you feel like something’s missing, don’t be afraid to go back and add more symbols, shapes, or textures.

Take some time to step back and look at your design as a whole. Does it tell the story you want it to? Does it feel balanced and harmonious? If something doesn’t quite fit, now’s the time to tweak it.

Step 8: Save and Share Your Family Crest Coat of Arms Template

Once you’re happy with your family crest design, it’s time to save it. Kittl allows you to download your family crest template in various formats, so you can use it however you like—print it out and frame it, use it as a logo, or even have it embroidered on a piece of clothing.

And don’t forget to share your creation! Show off your unique coat of arms to friends and family, or share it on social media. You never know—you might just inspire someone else to design their own family crest.

Key Takeaway: Design Your Family Crest with Ease

Creating your own coat of arms with Kittl using a family crest template is the most effective way to create a coat of arms. With a huge selection of vintage old-school fonts, shield and badge elements, shapes, and illustrations to choose from, creating a custom coat of arms has never been easier. You can personalize every aspect of your design, from the colors to the imagery, making it truly unique to you or your family name.

Design Family Crests for a DIY Holiday Gift 

Unique family crest designs make the perfect DIY holiday gifts, adding a personal touch that’s both meaningful and memorable. Unlike typical holiday presents, a custom family crest carries a deep sense of heritage, pride, and identity, making it a gift that resonates on a deeper level. 

Creating a family crest is an opportunity to celebrate your family's values, history, and unique traits. Imagine gifting your relatives with a beautifully designed crest that symbolizes your shared lineage—each element chosen to represent a part of your family's story. It’s a thoughtful way to honor traditions while also creating something new and special for your family to cherish.

Kittl makes it simple to design a family crest that you can proudly display as a representation of your family's values. You can customize every aspect—from the shield and symbols to the colors and mottos—to reflect your family's identity. Once designed, the crest can be printed on various items like framed artwork, mugs, or even Christmas ornaments, making it a versatile gift option.